This species is a slender, small to medium sized palm that may appear either solitary or clustering in habitat. The trunk is narrow and lightly ringed, supporting a graceful crown of pinnate leaves. Each leaf carries several to a dozen narrow, slightly curved leaflets on either side of the rachis, giving the crown a delicate, feathery appearance. The inflorescences are pendulous, bearing short flowering branches that hold male and female flowers arranged in triads. Once pollinated, the palm produces elongated, ellipsoid fruits that ripen to a bright red color. Native to northern Vietnam and nearby southern China, it often grows in shaded limestone forest habitats, making it a relatively rare species outside of its home range.